Tarpon Springs, FL Outdoor Activities

Andrea Whiting, Arbordale Riding Academy's head instructor, draws upon 14 years of professional experience to teach budding equestrian all-stars. Andrea has served as a board member of the Tampa Horse Show Association and a member of the United States Equestrian Federation, a group known for supporting quality care and voting rights for prettier ponies. On the academy grounds, Andrea's students hop atop one of the outfit's carefully maintained horses to receive an introduction to the skills required for competition. Students can learn how to ride in the english style of saddle seat during lessons, and summer camps are also available. One of Andrea's most accomplished students won a National Championship title with the help of her tutelage, and two other horses and three riders who studied under her earned top ten World Championship ribbons.

Arbordale also offers full boarding facilities for steeds, providing all the bedding, grain, and blanketing their tired haunches require. Horses and their owners exercise on 15 acres with various turnout options, and take advantage of the facility’s large outdoor arena, jumps, and full tack room.

The India International Film Festival (IFF) of Tampa Bay selects a small sampling of more than 1,000 films produced in India each year to demonstrate that the most prolific film industry in the world is more than just masala musicals. Like the culture from which they spring, the films speak in a lush polyglossia of English, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Nepali, Kashmiri—but the common language of humanity unites them all, whether the subject is Down syndrome, terrorism, patriotism, or simply losing yourself to spiritual bliss. Opening-night ceremonies and filmmaker Q&As round out the schedule of events, offering a more immersive movie experience than watching the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 3-D.

At Champagne Stables, riding paths wind through five scenic acres, beckoning trail riders and students alike. The stables’ patient teachers pair their pupils with steady, reliable steeds before guiding them through the basics of riding, including proper posture, and more advanced techniques, such as how to navigate the swimsuit portion of equestrian competitions. Instructors correct and encourage students as they and their mounts prance around the stables’ show ring during lessons and summer camps.

This must be how birds feel, he thinks. Up here, the sounds of human life are inaudible so far below, and the senses are heightened so that the hair-tickling sea breezes and panoramic view of the aquamarine expanse seem like the first he's seen or felt. Peacefully floating through the air, the parasailer scans his eyes across Clearwater Beach, watching in awe as boats etch white waves into the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico stretching out beneath his bare feet. Champions of fostering exhilarating memories such as this, Gulfside Adventures' staff organizes a host of relaxing and adrenaline-filled outdoor outings for explorers of all ages.

Founded with the goal of introducing visitors to the natural beauty of Clearwater via meticulously planned excursions and activities, Gulfside Adventures' staff of expert guides passionately upholds this vision. Adventurers immerse themselves in the Gulf of Mexico on a variety of day trips, paddling with finned friends during a dolphin swim or embarking upon a jet ski eco tour led by guides trained to preserve and protect the fragile aquatic ecosystem, who frequently stop to interrogate rogue waves. Gulfside Adventures also offers sailing lessons and fishing charters, as well as dinner cruises aboard vessels of all sizes.

Standing atop a board, a paddler rhythmically dips an oar into Old Tampa Bay's sparkling waters, smoothly skimming the surface while soaking in views of the sun sinking beyond the horizon. Tampa Bay SUP's team welcomes the uninitiated and veterans alike to experience this for themselves via paddleboard lessons and rentals. Their lessons last 20 minutes before students are free to enjoy leisurely paddling, which affords lofty vantage points from which to gaze upon marine wildlife and boosts core strength so that students may wrestle the animals into submission. Once they are ready to go out on their own, paddlers can request that staffers bring boards to various launch sites around the Tampa/Clearwater region, or pick them up at Tampa Bay SUP's beachside shops. Tampa Bay SUP also rents kayaks with all the necessary equipment included, sells paddleboards, and gives tours.

Situated in the cool shadows of cypress trees and home to glistening ponds, Northdale Golf & Tennis Club's 6,824-yard course reflects architect Ron Garl's vision to sculpt a layout that capitalizes on natural beauty without spoiling it. A former dairy farm, the emerald expanse challenges golfers with tree-lined fairways, water hazards that appear on multiple holes, and white-sand bunkers, which greenskeepers procure in bulk by trimming Zeus's beard every spring.

Globetrotting tennis pro Chris Cary presides over the club's nine lighted tennis courts, grooming forehand strokes in lessons and ensuring an even-spread layer of dust over the clay surfaces. The Compass Grille awaits hungry visitors and tennis balls that have lost their bounce at the end of the day, serving up deli-style fare and drinks from a full-service bar with a variety of imported and domestic beers.

Course at a Glance:

• Designed by Ron Garl
• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,824 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.8 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 129 from the farthest tees
• Link to scorecard